eggshell

eggshell
/eg"shel'/, n.
1. the shell of a bird's egg, consisting of keratin fibers and calcite crystals.
2. a pale yellowish-white color.
3. rather bulky paper having a slightly rough finish.
adj.
4. like an eggshell, as in thinness and delicacy; very brittle; fragile.
5. being pale yellowish-white in color.
6. having little or no gloss: eggshell white paint.
[1250-1300; ME ayschelle. See EGG1, SHELL]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • eggshell — egg shell , a. 1. of a pale, yellowish white color; as, an eggshell ceiling and light green walls. [1913 Webster +PJC] 2. (Architecture) having a smooth but not glossy texture like that of a hen s egg; as, a latex paint giving an eggshell finish …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eggshell — egg shell , n. 1. The shell or exterior covering of an egg. Also used figuratively for anything resembling an eggshell. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus {Ovulum}, resembling an egg in form. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eggshell — [eg′shel΄] n. the hard, brittle outer covering of an egg of a reptile, bird, or monotreme adj. 1. fragile and thin, like eggshell 2. yellowish white …   English World dictionary

  • eggshell — early 15c., from EGG (Cf. egg) (n.) + SHELL (Cf. shell). Earlier ay schelle (c.1300). Emblematic of thin and delicate from 1835; as a color term, from 1894. The figure of treading on eggshells to move cautiously is attested by 1734 …   Etymology dictionary

  • eggshell — ► NOUN 1) the thin, hard, fragile outer layer of an egg. 2) (before another noun ) (of china) extremely thin and delicate. 3) (before another noun ) denoting an oil based paint that dries with a slight sheen …   English terms dictionary

  • Eggshell — The term eggshell is a term for the outer covering of a hard shelled egg, and some forms of eggs with soft outer coats.The generalized eggshell structure, which varies widely among species, is a protein matrix lined with mineral crystals, usually …   Wikipedia

  • eggshell — I UK [ˈeɡˌʃel] / US noun Word forms eggshell : singular eggshell plural eggshells 1) [countable] the hard outside layer of an egg 2) [uncountable] a type of paint that is slightly shiny II UK [ˈeɡˌʃel] / US adjective like an eggshell, for example …   English dictionary

  • eggshell — 1. noun a) The shell around an egg. b) A pale off white colour, like that of the eggshell. 2. adjective a) Of a pale yellowish whitish colour, like that of the eggshell. b) …   Wiktionary

  • eggshell — egg|shell1 [ eg,ʃel ] noun 1. ) count the hard outside layer of an egg 2. ) uncount MAINLY BRITISH a type of paint that is only slightly shiny eggshell egg|shell 2 [ eg,ʃel ] adjective like an eggshell, for example white yellow in color, not very …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • eggshell — [[t]e̱gʃel[/t]] eggshells (The spelling egg shell is also used for meaning 1.) 1) N VAR An eggshell is the hard covering on the outside of an egg. 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n Eggshell paint makes surfaces dull, not shiny, when it is painted on them. The… …   English dictionary

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